The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-11
OUNCE HARRIS,
THE KING OF wEpsrRH COUNTY,

uentlemnn Outlaw o1d Boss OF tho Moon.
sinners Il no Dead, or Is this his own
lsnse to Escape Molestation by the
onlcers-IIis Romantic Career.
Several weeks ago the IxrRL1IaEycER
printed q special dispatch from Charleston
announcing the death In. Pocahontas
county Of John Quincy Harris, known all
over the mountain counties OF this State
as "Quince Harris, King Of Webster coun.
IT," Harris was ougaged In Illicit distill.
Ing shortly after tho war, and numerous
indictments have been pending against
him in the U. s. Court for year,, covering
the period from 1870 to 1877. He ran dis.
t~illeriea at various times in four or i've
counties, and sometimes had as many as
Eve or six stills at one time.
After the ISrE1t1oENcrR's publication
several Of the papers Of Pocahontas,
Greenbrier, Webster and other counties
came TO hand with announcements Of
Harris's death. II WAC said that he had
recently returned from Texas, where he
had gone to escape arrest, and that In
fording q swollen stream In Pocahontaa
county he had injured Que OF his toes,
which he afterwards amputated with q
Chisel, and that from the results of this
rude operation he had died at tho home
Of an old friend.
MS cARIRR.
Tho news OF his death started a flood al
"reminiscences OF the romantic career Of
the famous outlaw. The commonly &C.
cepted story Is that the Government
agents made 1t so warm for him that he
disappeared, and some time after q man
returned from Texas with the information
that he hadseen Harris there, and that
he was prodtably embarked in the cattle
business. This was ten years or more ago.
Friends OF Harris's profess to have been in
communication with him, and they said
he was getting old and wished to come
home and die in peace. They interested
Hon. O. P. Dorr, OF Webster county, In
the CAGE, and he undertook to have the
pending indictments nollied, and was
hopeful Of doing 81 when he heard Of
Harris's strange death.
Doubts have been suggested as to
whether Harris ever went to Texas.
Many people, among them some Of the
Government officials, believe that II he
did 20 there lie remained but o few weeks,
and has spent most Of the ten years In his
old haunts.
Harris had a wonderful hold on the
people OF Webster county. None of them
would give him awsy,"s said a prominent
gentleman OF that section to an INTELL1'
dESCEI reporter recently. 'Some of them
were actuated by friendship or gratitude,
some by more selfish motives, some by
fear OF Harris or his many friends. He
might easily secure immunity from die
covery in the mountains under these cir.
cumstances."
HIS POPULARITY.
There was reason for Hatris's popu.
larity. He was chiyalrous and generous,
and seemed to- lead his chosen life more
from love Of adventure than anything
else. One year all the grim in his section
OF country was rendered unmarketable
and unfit for grinding by unreasonable
weather. Harris bought 1t all up, paid
cash at the ruling market price for fret
class grain, aud converted it into "white
whisky" as the Illicit liquor is known in
it's native regions. After THE, it was not
strange II hia neighbors felt friendly de-
posed toward him.
He is said to have been an educated
man, wss the best dressed man in five
counties, always had plenty OF money and
spent 1t like a prince, and would 60 out OF
his way at any time to do q friendly turn
to q nefshbor.s Asort OF romantic interest
attached to him, and hio unaunounced
comings and abrupt goings were looked
upon with indulgence.
Harris once presented q Gne horse to q
well-known newspaper man Of this State,
giving IS one Of his recommendations that
if be was allowed TO pick his own way be
would take his rider to every illicit distil.
lery in the county.
G IS HARRIS DEAD? s.
There is q disposition among those OF
the Government officials who are familiar
with Harris'a career, to doubt the truth OF
the report OF his death. Judge Jackson,
Of the United States Court, regards this as
a new ruee Of Ounce 10 throw tho officers
of his Ecent. There are people in the
country where he once made his home.
who laugh when asked If he is really dead.
II he Is living, it is safe 10 say he did not
originate tho report OF his death. The
very improbability Of death from such a
cause tends to raise q presumption OF the
truth ofthe story. An inventor would have
hit on a more likely cause Nevertheless.
there is q growing skepticIsm as to his
death. The report has never been au-
thenticated. One gentleman said yester.
day in q conversation on this subject that
Harris himself told the story about his 20
ing to Texas; that he was met inithe
woods by a party OF revenue officers to
whom he represented himself as a hunter, |
and when they mentioned Harris's name
be said he had heard in the neighborhood
that Harris had gone to Texas. He even
aad the audacity to point out the smoke
from his still as the smoke OF his party's
hunting camp.
Whether Harris is dead or living, it is
certain that tho Illicit manufacture Of
liquor in this State is enjoying q sort Of a
boom Just now. The :Pocahontas Times.
published at Huntersville, announces with
apparent pride that "There are only four
illicit distilleries in Pocahontas county
now." Deputy Marshal Mehen says that
some time sgo when at Huntersville on
business, no had the smoke OF IN illicit |
1istillery pointed out TO him from q point
u view not far from Huntersville.
Attractive Entertainme nts,
Pianoists salected from the advanced
clasaes Of Professor William Armstrong;
pupils will give two musical matinees atf
his studio, 1928 Market street, nSthe
Of March % and March 90, for
he benefit of the Woman's Exchange.
The first will be a Chopin matinee and
khn connpA fror, o,al,., " |